Coin chute



May 28, 1935. T. w. B. WATLING 2,002,560

COIN CHUTE Filed June 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN CHU'IE Application June 14,- 1934, Serial No. 730,564

lclaim.

This invention relates to coin controlled apparatus provided with a coin chute having a guideway through which the coins travel edgewise.

In coin chutes, the guideway is proportioned to permit the passage of a coin of the denomination for which the machine is constructed. The cross sectional area of the guideway is only suflicient to permit clearance of a coin of proper dimensions. If, therefore, as frequently occurs, a bent coin is inserted into the chute, it becomes wedged in the guideway so as to jam the machine.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a coin chute having improved means for releasing and ejecting any coin or slug which becomes wedged in the guideway; and to provide improved coin releasing means of this kind which may be readily actuated by the operator of the machine'without the necessity of dismantling any part of the structure.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the head of a coin chute to which this invention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and showing the parts in their normal positions.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2. 7

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken on the lines 44 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the coin releasing means in its operative position for ejecting a bent coin.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Coin chutes embodying this invention are adapted for use in connection with many different types of coin-controlled machines and, therefore, the drawings illustrate only those portions 01 the chute which will be of assistance in describing the invention.

In the form shown, the chute comprises a back plate I and a front plate 2 secured together by screws or other suitable fastening means, not shown. Formed on the plates I and 2, are flanges 3 and 4, respectively, intended to rest on the top wall of the casing of the coin-controlled machine, as is well understood. That portion of the chute located above the flanges 3 and 4 is known as the coin head. Formed in the plate 2 of the coin head, is the usual inlet 5 through which the coins G are inserted.

The inner face of the rear plate I is channeled, as shown at I, to form the stationary portion of (Cl. 19H?) the coin guideway to which coins are directed edgewise from a movable portion of the guideway which is supported within an opening 8 formed in the head of the rear plate I. The movable portion is thus housed in the coin head between 5 the front plate 2 and a rear section 9. The section 9 and the head of the front plate 2 have interfitting rims l0 and I l respectively. The section 9 is secured to the rim I l by a threaded stud l2 and is secured to the rear flange 3 by a stud 10 I3 and cotter pin I4.

Formed on the rear plate I, adjacent the flange 3, is an. inclined runway l5 along which rejected coins may be directed toward an outlet IS in the coin head.

In the construction illustrated, the movable portion of the coin guideway, which is housed within the coin head, comprises a rear wall I! and a front wall l8 having offset lugs l3 and, 20, respectively, which are hinged on a hinge pin 2| 20 supported on the head of the rear plate I.

The two walls I! and I8 are held in spaced relation to each other to form a guideway through which the proper coin may travel edgewise from the inlet 5 to the channel I. The front wall I8 25 is normally seated in a recess22 formed on the inner face of the front plate 2. The front wall l8 does not extend to the inlet 5 and its upper inclined edge is bent forwardly to form a flange 23 which is adapted to project forwardly below 30 a ledge 24 on the front plate 2 to prevent coins from lodging in the recess 22.

Formed on the rear wall I1, is a lug 25 on which is mounted a set screw 26 which bears against a lug 21 on the front wall "3 for spacing the two 35 walls the proper distance from each other. The two walls are yieldingly retained in this spaced relation by a spring 28, one end of which is secured to the front wall l8 and the other end of which is secured to a lug 23 on the rear plate I1. 40 The movable portion of the guideway is normally retained in vertical alinement with the channel I by a leaf spring 30 which bears against a knob 3| on the rear face of the wall 11. The spring 30 may be secured to a bracket 32 on the flange 3 by means of a screw 33.

A coin entering the movable guideway is deflected and directed toward the channel I by lugs 34 and 35. The lug 34 is formed on the front wall l3, and extends rearwardly through a recess 36 in the rear wall l1, and the lug 35 is formed on the rear wall l1 .and projects forwardly through an opening 31 in the front wall.

The spacing between the walls I1 and I8 is only suflicient to accommodate a coin which will pass through the channel I. If, therefore, the

coin is bent so as to have a. thickness greater able portion of the guideway out of alinement with the channel 1 and for expanding it when-so shifted so as to eject the bent coin through the I outlet Hi.

In the form shown, the coin ejecting means includes a manually operable plunger 38 seated in a socket 39 formed in a boss 40 in the head of the rear plate I The forward end of the plunger 38 projects forwardly through an aperture M in the head of the front plate 2 so that it may be pressed by the operator of the machine. Formed on the rear end of the plunger, is a head 42 which bears against an arm 43 on the rear wall H so that, by pushing the plunger inwardly, the wall I1 is shifted rearwardly.

The wall i 8 moves rearwardly with the wall l1, under the action of the spring 28, but the rearward movement of the wall I! is greater than that of the wall 18 so as to permit expansion of the movable guideway for releasing the bent coin 6.! after the coin has been shifted out of alinement with the channel I. To this end, the wall I8 has a finger 44 which is adapted to strike the rear wall of the channel I for limiting the rearward movement of the wall l8. The rear wall I! is permitted to move rearwardly against the action of the springs 28 and 30 until its lower corner 45 strikes a shoulder 45 located at the rear edge of the runway l5.

In operation, the parts normally assume the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 5, in which the movable guideway is alined with the channel I to permit the coin to pass from the former into the latter. If a bent coin is inserted and becomes wedged between the walls I! and I 8 so as to jam the chute, the operator may release it by pressing the plunger 38. The two walls l1 and I8 move rearwardly as a unit until the wall I! is stopped by the finger 44. In this position, the movable portion of the guideway is out of alinement with the channel I, and further pressure on the plunger 38 shifts the wall I! into engagement with the shoulder 46, thereby releasing the bent coin which then rolls down the runway l5 to the opening l6.

Although but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claim.

I claim: 7

In a coin chute, a guideway having a station- .ary portion and a movable portion normally alined with each other to permit coins to travel edgewise from the movable portion into the stationary portion, said stationary portion comprising a front plate and a rear plate defining a coin channel, said front plate having a coin inlet therein, the inner face of said front plate having a recess below said inlet, said movable portion comprising a pair of relatively shiftable walls hinged to said rear plate, means for normally retaining said walls in definite spaced relation to each 0ther,the'upper edge of one of said walls normally extending into said recess, a spring normally urging said movable portion into alinement with said stationary portion, a manually operable pin extending through said front plate adjacent said inlet and engaging the other of said walls for shifting said movable portion out of alinement with said stationary portion, and a stop on a stationary portion of the chute for limiting the movement of said one wall whereby said pin is operable to shift said other wall a greater distance than said one wall to expand said movable member for releasing any coin which may be wedged in said movable portion.

THOMAS ,W. B. WATLING. 

